The C++ frontend accepts the following (IMHO invalid) variable declaration since gcc 3.0:
========================= int ::i; ========================= -- Summary: [3.3/3.4/4.0 regression] int ::i; accepted Product: gcc Version: 4.0.0 Status: UNCONFIRMED Keywords: accepts-invalid, monitored Severity: normal Priority: P2 Component: c++ AssignedTo: unassigned at gcc dot gnu dot org ReportedBy: reichelt at gcc dot gnu dot org CC: gcc-bugs at gcc dot gnu dot org http://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=18466